Steering apparatus for cycles.



Patented Sept. l2, I899.

R. C. AYTON.

STEERING APPARATUS FOR CYCLES.

(Application filed. June 23, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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UNiTEn STATES PATENT CEEIGE.

ROBERT CHARLES AYTON, OF COVENTRY, ENGLAND.

STEERING APPARATUS FOR CYCLES.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 633,063, dated September12, 1899.

Application filed June 23, 1899. Serial No. 721,577. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT CHARLES AY- TON, a subject of the Queen ofEngland, re-

siding at Coventry, IVarwick county, England, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in or Relating to Steering Apparatus for Cycles,Motor-Vehicles, and the Like, (for which I have made application forLetters Patent in Great Britain, No. 17,4:39, dated the 12th day ofAugust, 1898,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to steering apparatus for cycles, motor-vehicles,and the like, and has for its object to so mount the steering wheel orwheels that increased facilities are afforded for guiding the vehicle.

Accordingtothisinvention the hub of each wheel is made of sufficientlylarge diameter to allow of the inner or fixed portion being in the formof a sleeve, within which are arranged bearings for the accommodation ofvertical bearing-pins formed upon the main axle, the axis of these pinsbeing at right angles to that of the axle. IVith this arrangement thewheel turns upon the axle about a center situated in or about thecentral plane of the wheel.

\Vhere two steering-wheels are employed, as in some forms of vehicle,the inner nonrotatable sleeves of the wheels are connected together insome suitable manner, so as to enable the two wheels to be turnedsimultaneously. It is to be understood, however, that any suitabledevice may be employed for actually bringing about the guidance of thewheel or wheels, the manner of mounting above described giving facilityfor great variation in this direction.

It has before now been proposed to pivota wheel internally somewhatafter the manner proposed in the present specification,but upon the endof a shaft. In such a construction, however, the drawbacks inseparablefrom an overhung axle were incurred and the possibility appertaining tomy invention of carrying the wheel in a fork or in the center of a longshaft would not exist. Consequently I make no broad claim to thepivoting of a wheel inside its hub.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinalsection through the hub of a wheel constructed and mounted in accordancewith this invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same.

Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

The axle A, whose ends are suitably attached to the framework of thevehicle, is provided with pivot-pins A, whose axis is at right angles tothe axis of the axle. The hub B of the wheel is made of larger diameterthan is usual and provided with ball-races B at either end of someconvenient construction. Vithin the hub 13 is arranged a sleeve formedin two parts C C, each of which has an internal flange C In the latterare formed semicylindrical recesses C for the reception of thepivot-pins A, the two parts C C,when brought together and connected bybolts C embracing the pivot-pins in the manner shown in the drawings.Webs C serve to strengthen the flanges C where the recesses are formed.Each portion of the sleeve C C is provided with a ball-race C.

The ends of the axle A may be mounted on springs or otherwise, as foundconvenient.

If preferred, the construction above described may be m odified byforming the sleeve C C in one piece and providing it with pivotpinsadapted to engage with sockets formed in a two-part sleeve mounted uponthe axle.

I claim- The combination with a wheel-axle supported at both ends andprovided with pivotpins rigid therewith and extending at right anglesthereto, of a two-part casing divided in a verticalplane and fitted overthe axle, each part provided with recesses which register when the twoparts are brought together and form sockets to receive the pins, saidcasing being free to turn horizontally on the pins, means to clamp thetwo parts together, and a wheel-hub mounted on the casing to turnhorizontally therewith and also to rotate th ereon in a vertical plane,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand in the presence of thetwo subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT CHARLES AYTON.

\Vitnesses:

B. E. DUNBAR KILBURN, HARRY B. RIDGE.

